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Lost airbags – No way to ride!
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Harry: If Jeff did all those things less than two years ago, he is probably your best resource to tell you what it might be to help you narrow it down. That doesn’t mean a two year old bag couldn’t have failed or didn’t got pinched or something else didn’t happened to it. Maybe an air line ruptured because it was chaffing on something; but I’m not sure that would make a “pop”. “Pop” leads me to think of something that contains lots of air (like a bag).
Keep us posted. Quite a few of us are wondering what it could be.
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Harry, I feel your pain. Call Jeff as He will be able to tell your mechanic what to check. Had all my air goodies redone at Fort Worth Prevost 8 years ago and feel it’s time for another bank robbery to pay for a redo. If you need somebody to help drink YOUR beer and watch while guy is working, I’m your man.
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We know we have three air bags in the rear per side. But one 5 port Norgren will stop all air flow to them and there is no way to isolate a single rear air bag unless it is the tag, and in that case lifting the tag axle will stop air flow to the tag air bag. Unfortunately I think the tag lift is speed sensitive so if speed goes above a certain very low speed (maybe 15 MPH) the tag lift is disabled and all three air bags are receiving air again.
That is probably a safety consideration because when the tag axle is lifted the tag axle brakes are disabled.
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UPDATE: The Level Lo system allowed me to bring the left, right and front to drive height. The mechanic will be there tomorrow.
What does a working Level Lo tell you?
Harry
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I’m not clear on whether you can hear the leak or not.
It could just be the middle valve/solenoid (ride height) in the steering bay on the 5 port Norgren. If you only have 4 ports, I can’t remember which one is ride height.
Identify the ride height valve and swap out one of the others to see if that’s the problem.
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What happens when you have the key on and you put the selector back to the Drive position?
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO -
Thank you one and all for your help. I know there are some who have tried to call me. Right now the only way I can talk to you is if you send me an email or a text telling me when to call. Something is wrong with my phone that it doesn’t ring, will not take a voicemail and the call does not show up on my phone history list. AT&T is working on it but for now no joy.
I can call out so as I say, send me a text or email and I call you whenever you say. Sorry to those who have been calling thinking I’m ignoring you… That would never happen.
Harry
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You can also hols a strong magnet on top of the center valve. If you hear the valve move or air moving it is the coil. A fairly common happening.
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Right now nothing makes sense Harry.
Your description of the problem, including the bus dropping on one side had all the earmarks of a failed air bag. I think you used the word “pop”.
Now you are saying using the level low in manual position allows you to raise all three points which completely negates any probability of an air bag failure, or even any failure associated with anything on the suspension.
So back to square one. Air up the coach, turn it off, turn the key back on but do not start it and walk around listening for air leaks.
If you do not hear any my next step would be to do a complete DOT brake check in case the noise you heard initially wasn’t a brake chamber diaphragm failing catastrophically. If that checks out you have a bus that has the self repair option.
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Can a bus be driven (like 80 miles) using Level Lo?
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Yes, assuming all the air bags are aired up. I drove a 1/2 to get to Prevost service with the knob NOT in the drive position (confirmed OK by Prevost).
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Harry
Need more info, you trying to drive in manual and hold your finger on the inflate switch to keep a side up?
If so yes, my friend did it for 600 miles from Reno to Montana but he is very experienced.
Later
bv
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wrote a lengthy post then lost it. basic the air is routed from front to left hand norgren valve (located just in front or rear end on back of last bay wall Acesable from under neath)it tells wether to use leveling valves or let you choose ride height. choosing travel mode routes air either to leveling valves Mechanical fear left -right and front must run thru this port. If you select manual set=directs all air to norgren that control each indivual air bag set front up down rear right up down and rear left up or down. Your problem by deduction would be a problem with the isolation of the leveling valves supply after norgren valve. prob bad line or one of three mechanical leveling valves(all after) supplied air from front stack in lower steering compartment.. In articles section top of page select level low article with pictures… Bob spell ck not working —-
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Hi robertglines1, I too wrote a long post and lost it so here’s a brief one.
Saturday: Ran engine for 20 minutes on high idle with both pressures reading 120 psi. Bus did not come up. Turned on Level Lo and brought the left, right and front up to drive height.
Sunday: Went back to the park with two mechanics and bus was still at full height as I left it Saturday. Started engine, turned off Level Lo and the drivers side stayed up while the passenger side dropped. The mechanics measured the rear bags and the drivers side as 9-3/4 and the passenger side was 8-1/3. Turned back on the Level Lo and brought the passenger side back up to drive height. We never heard any air leaking but did hear the normal air pop while engine was running.
One last thing is we did check is the ride height valve that Tom posted a picture of. One of the valves was missing the red screwdriver top as shown in the pictures but the mechanics and I agreed to leave it to the experts and not mess with something we were unsure of.
My reason for asking if the bus can be driven in level low is I obviously have to have the system checked. Thank you all for your input…
Harry
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I assume the air pop you heard was the dryer purging.
The ride height coil/solenoid is a common failure. The stay energized as long as the key is on and they get hot. To help identify which one is ride height, leave the key for awhile and it will be very warm to the touch. Your selector would of course have to be in the road position.
I like others carry spares.
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